Cross - Green Loop

Walking
County Mayo
4/5
2 reviews
Grade Easy
Length 5.6 km
Am 1.5 hours
Format Loop
Dogs Allowed No
Waymarking Green arrow on white background
Start Point
Small car park beside Cross Abbey at the head of the beach at Cross Point
Finish Point
Small car park beside Cross Abbey at the head of the beach at Cross Point
Nearest Town to Start Belmullet
Grid Ref. F 642 309
Lat. and Long. 54.208531, -10.082248

Much of this walk is on the fine sandy beach at Cross Common with the remainder mostly on sandy track and minor road with underfoot generally firm and even. Migrant Barnacle and Grey geese graze the sandy fields and dunes around Cross Lough. Off-shore lie the islands of Inishglora, Inishkeeragh and the Inishkeas, with their folklore, history and birdlife.

Maps and other information

Trail Management

This walk should only be attempted at low tide.

OSI Maps

OSI Maps

Discovery Series Sheet 22
4/5
09/01/2016

Steve from Galway

A walk on the wild side. Beautiful big open (at low tide) beach walk with impressive views up and down the coast of this far flung corner of Ireland.

Voted "Best place to go Wild" the Erris peninsula is well worth exploring and this loop gives a taste of the western, more rugged, side with its dunes and sheep grazed machair grasslands.

Starting at one of the many early christian sites placed next to the sea in this area you follow the signs for 2 1/2 km along the beach before the path turns inland across the sheltering dunes and arrives on the shore of Cross Lake where there are picnic tables and benches from which you can often watch wind and kite surfers perform before returning to the abbey ruins along the farm track.

A walk to get the wind in your hair while watching the waves crashing, imagine life on the offshore islands and spot the birdlife both native and seasonal visitor.

More on walks around the Erris can be found on my blog: stevebarhamramblingman.wordpress.com
05/18/2014

Siobhan from Antrim

Beautiful coastal trail starting at the old Cross Abbey ruins, along the beach front. The Iniskea islands are visible from the shore line and the beach extends for approximately 2.5km. This walk is best done at low tide so as to make use of the extensive strand. A black post marked with the trail arrows on your left points you through a marked pathway along the sand dunes and linking to Cross lake. This lake is known for its swans and variety of wildlife. The lake shore road continues and veers left and links back up to the Cross Abbey starting point. A wonderfully refreshing walk for any time of year! Directions from Belmullet town- drive across the bridge and follow the signs for 'An Fód Dubh' (Blacksod), drive approximately 5km and turn right at the Church in Binghamstown (An Géata Mór). You will pass Belderragh beach on your right and continue on this road until you see the sign post directing you to the starting point for Cross loop walk. There is plenty of parking here at the starting point of the walk. Enjoy!

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